Perceptions of Vaccine Safety among Parents and Guardians of Children and Adolescents in Vienna, Austria
(ViVI-Survey-2)
The topic of vaccine safety is often discussed controversially - not only in Austria, but beyond. In times of globalization and the internet, rumors may spread rapidly influencing the public opinion about perceived risks and benefits of vaccines.
Little is known about the attitudes and beliefs among parents in Austria with respect to the safety of currently recommended childhood vaccines. The ViVI Survey ?Perceptions of Vaccine Safety among Parents and Guardians of Children and Adolescents in Vienna, Austria? aims to close this gap. Opinions will be polled using a pre-validated international survey instrument.
Our goal is to learn more about the many factors that may come into play when parents think about having their child immunized. We would like to know whether the parents feel sufficiently informed and how the interaction with the pediatrician or vaccine provider could be improved. We will be paying attention to differences in opinion regarding specific vaccines in the Austrian immunization schedule, but also to the impact of the news media as well as socio-economic aspects that may all play a role in the acceptance of vaccines.
With this project, we would like to open up a dialogue that will help us to better understand our patients and their families. Last, but not least, we will be training a group of dedicated medical students and future doctors in effective risk communication as well as in the scientific fields of vaccinology and evidence-based medicine.